Voice of America - February 21, 2024
On Wednesday, February 21, the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations issued a statement on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, defending the "right to education in mother tongues." It described the "continuation of monolingual educational policies without considering the linguistic perspectives of citizens" as "unscientific, undemocratic, and entirely wrong."
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated February 21 as International Mother Language Day. This initiative was introduced at UNESCO’s General Conference in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.
In its statement, the Coordination Council emphasized its unwavering support for "the inalienable right of citizens to choose their educational language." It argued that "the continuation of current monolingual policy engineering in Iran contradicts linguistic science principles and is explicitly erroneous."
The statement further noted that "continuing monolingual policies in education is an unjust act that ignores the collective rights of non-Persian peoples within Iran's political geography."
The Council pointed out that the situation in Iran is no different from other countries where "linguicide policies are systematically implemented" and added, "linguicide policies and the rise of dictatorship are advancing cohesively in all non-democratic countries."
It highlighted that "since the establishment of modern education approximately a century ago, Persian has been the sole language used for instruction, as well as the language of legal and political rights, among the many languages within Iran's political geography."
The statement also referenced recent research that underscores the "necessity of mother tongue education," asserting that "a child must engage with the world of education and modern knowledge through their mother tongue. Any policy that disrupts this relationship not only harms the child's individual development but also undermines the foundation of a healthy and stable society."
The Coordination Council criticized linking "the issue of non-Persian mother tongue education to national security and identity concerns." It noted that "in many democratic countries, whose political stability and sustainability are incomparable to non-democratic nations, citizens are free to choose their educational language."
The statement remarked, "This freedom has not driven countries like Switzerland, India, South Africa, or any other democracy in the East or West toward collapse. On the contrary, it is one of the key factors ensuring the stability of their political systems."
The statement concluded by stressing that "a society's vitality depends not on suppressing or eliminating differences, but on creating a fair and equitable environment for their growth and flourishing."
The United Nations website notes that multilingual and multicultural societies thrive by preserving their languages as conduits of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
According to the report, linguistic diversity faces increasing threats due to the extinction of languages, with 40% of the world’s population lacking access to education in their mother tongues—a figure exceeding 90% in some regions.
The UN website highlights the role of languages in fostering inclusion and achieving sustainable development goals, stating, "Multilingual education policies are essential for inclusive education and the preservation of indigenous languages. By starting education in a learner’s mother tongue and gradually introducing other languages, barriers between home and school are reduced, facilitating effective learning."
It concludes that multilingual education promotes inclusive societies and helps preserve minority and indigenous languages, forming the cornerstone of equitable access to education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The link to the original article in Farsi on VOA Persian:
دفاع تشکل سراسری معلمان ایران از «حق آموزش به زبان مادری»: تداوم سیاست تکزبانی اشتباه است